Golf ball putting game



Jan. 28, 1969. 5. G. MATTHEWS GOLF BALL PUTTING GAME Filed Dec. 29. 1966 m n w United States Patent Office Patented Jan. 28, 1969 3,424,463 GOLF BALL PUTTING GAME Gerald G. Matthews, 1120 N. Shore Drive, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33701 Filed Dec. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 605,786 U.S. C]. 273--176 Int. Cl. A63b 67/02, 69/36 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Summary of the invention The present invention relates to a game for developing skill in putting golf balls.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of a game device having a main surface onto which a golf ball may be putted and which has one or more openings therein simulating a golf ball cup of a golf green and adapted to receive the putted golf balls, and which device has one or more secondary or return surfaces sloping relative to the main surface and below the level of the first surface and onto which golf balls may roll from the main surface and gravitate through a field of obstacles and into one of several different home or scoring stations. Preferably, golf balls which are directed into the cup simulating opening or Openings on the main sloping surface are returned through a conduit to a given home position. The home positions may be assigned different values to add interest to the game.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game device embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1, certain parts thereof being shown broken away.

Referring to the drawing, a golf game device is shown which comprises a rectangular frame 11 adapted to rest on a horizontal surface, such as a floor, and which has an inclined main putting surface 12 and two secondary or return surfaces 13, 14 at opposite sides of the main surface and sloping towards the lower end of the main surface. The putting surface 12 is generally fan shaped and diverges upwardly and has a longitudinal center ridge 15 from which the opposite sides of the surface slope laterally and downwardly so that golf balls propelled upwardly onto the surface 12 will roll by gravity away from the ridge as indicated by the arrows 16. The ridge is preferably curved rather than angular.

A platform 17 is provided which projects forwardly from the lower narrow portion of the putting surface 12 and provides a support for golf balls, one of which is shown at 20 which is adapted to be hit by a suitable golf club, such as a putter, held by a person standing adjacent the platform 17 and addressing the ball in the usual golf putting fashion. Golf balls are adapted to be driven from the platform 17 upwardly along the surface 12 with the objective of causing the ball to enter either one of two cups 21, 22 which comprise openings formed in the surface 12. Preferably, opening 21 is larger than opening 22, but in both cases the openings are of course large enough to receive a conventional golf ball.

Two side walls or side rails 23, 24 extend along and define the diverging sides of the putting surface 12 and these side rails each have an opening 25, 26, respectively, through which golf balls may roll from the opposite sides of the surface 12 and onto one or the other of the sloping return surfaces 13, 14, respectively.

A rectangular surface 27 is provided across the top end edge of the putting surface 12 and this surface is sloped from its ends and sides to a central opening 30 which is adapted to form a return chute for golf balls which are driven beyond the upper edge of the putting surface 12 and which gravitate to the opening. Preferably, slots 31, 32 extend laterally from the opening 30 and serve to provide a guide for directing golf balls into the opening 30.

The return surfaces 13, 14 are generally V-shaped and are wider at the forward end of the frame 11, as seen in the drawing, and converge to points towards the rear of the frame at the widest part of the putting surface 12. The return surfaces 13, 14 are inclined upwardly from the front or wide ends thereof and the degree of incline of these surfaces are somewhat less than that of the main surface 12. The slope of the return surfaces 13, 14 is sufficient to cause golf balls deposited thereon from the main surface, as described hereinafter, to roll rather fast towards the front of the surfaces and enter into one of two open end compartments 33, 34 at the lower end of the surface 13, or into one of two open end compartments 35 or 36 at the lower end of the surface 14. The compartments 33, 34 are formed by a side wall 42 of the frame 11 and spaced partitions 37 and 40 extending vertically from the surface 13. The compartments 35, 36 are formed by partitions 46, 47, which extend vertically from the surface 14, and a side wall of the frame 11. Preferably, the tops of the compartments 33-36 are closed by transparent panels 52, 53 suitably attached to the structure.

The return surfaces 13, 14 are planar and are positioned on the frame so that intersections of vertical planes extending normal to the major axis of the frame 11 and the surfaces, 13, 14 lie in a plane inclined only forwardly and upwardly so that golf balls rolling on these surfaces do not tend to gravitate to one side or the other thereof. Each of the surfaces 13, 14 has a plurality of spaced resilient members 44 which are arranged to deflect to one side or the other a golf ball rolling by gravity from the upper ends of the surfaces towards the bottom ends thereof and cause the balls to move in an erratic and unpredictable path, terminating in one of the open end compartments 33, 34 or 35, 36, as the case may be. The members 44 may comprise a coiled wire spring supported on a peg at the center thereof.

Golf balls failing to enter either cup 21 or 22 generally enter onto the return surfaces 13 or 14 through either of the openings 25 or 26 through the side rails 23, 24, respectively. Balls overshooting the putting surface 12 and entering onto surface 27 are directed onto the return surfaces 13, 14 at the upper ends thereof through openings 55, 56. The balls are conducted from the return opening 30 in surface 27 to the openings 55, 56 through one or the other of two conduits or tubes 60, 61 which are arranged to receive balls from the opening and which slope away from the opening to the openings 55, 56, respectively. Thus all balls entering the opening 30 will gravitate to the higher end of one or the other of the return surfaces 13, 14 and roll into one of the compartments 33-36.

Golf balls entering the cup openings 21 or 22 are directed by gravity through suitable conduits 62, 63 to separate compartments 65 or 66, respectively, which are adjacent the compartments 34, 35, respectively. The compartment 65 is formed by the partition 40 and the end section of the side rail 23, and the compartment 66 is formed by the end section of the side rail 24 and part1- tion 46. The compartments 65, 66 are covered by the respective panels 52, 53.

The putting device is coin operated and the forward ends of the compartments 34, 35, 36, 37, 65, 66 are closed by transparent doors 70, 71 which are pivoted on rods suitably supported between the inner rails 23, 24 and the outer sides 42, 50 of the frame 11. A suitable coin operated mechanism 72 is provided for opening both doors at once by the actuation of a treadle 73 which is released for operation upon the deposit of a coin in a slot 74. The doors 70, 71 swing forwardly and upwardly and permit the golf balls in the compartments 3436, 65, 66 to roll into troughs 76 extending laterally of the platform 17 so that the player has access to the balls for play.

It will be understood that the device 10 may be formed of any suitable material, such as plywood, and that the surfaces 12, 13, 14 are smooth and regular. Also the conduits 60, 61, 62, 63 may be formed in any convenient manner and therefore the details of which are not shown.

In playing the game, a golf ball is placed on the platform 17 and the player stands facing the platform with a golf club and strikes the ball with the aim of causing it to enter either one or the other of the simulated cup openings 21, 22. If the ball enters the cup 21 it is returned to the compartment 65 through the conduit 62, and if the ball enters cup 22 it is returned to the compartment 66 through the conduit 63. Should the ball fall short of entering either of the two openings 21, 22 it will roll downwardly along the surface 12 and towards one side or the other thereof and pass through openings 25 or 26 and fall onto either of the return surfaces 13, 14 as the case may be. The ball will then gravitate towards the front of the frame 11 and enter the compartments 33, 34, 35, 36, depending upon its course of roll as influenced by striking the bumpers 44 and the side walls of the return surface. In the event the golf ball overshoots the surface 12, it will enter the opening 30 and be directed onto the upper end of either of the return surfaces 13 or 14, by way of the conduits 60 or 61, from whence the ball rolls into one or the other of the return compartments 33, 34 35, 36, depending upon its path of travel as influenced 'by the bumpers 44, etc.

To add interest to the game, the compartments 33-36 and '65, 66 can be assigned appropriate numbers or values and a game score can be determined according to the compartments into which a given number of balls terminate following a putting thereof as described.

It is apparent that the invention provides a game which requires the exercise of golf putting skill and the game provides scoring opportunities based upon the skills and to some degree upon chance, which provides interest to the game.

It will be understood that although I have described but one form of the invention, other forms, modifications and adaptations thereof may be made all falling within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A golf game comprising means forming a rectangular frame adapted to rest upon a surface, said frame including a putting surface having a longitudinally extending central portion, two side portions, an upper end and a lower end, the elevation of said upper end being substantially greater than the elevation of said lower end, the elevation of said central portion being substantially greater than the elevation of said side portions, said putting surface increasing in width from said lower end toward said upper end, two return surfaces, one adjacent each side portion of said putting surface, each of said return surfaces having an upper end and a lower end, the elevation of the upper ends of said return surfaces being substantial- 1y greater than the elevation of the lower ends of said return surfaces, said return surfaces decreasing in width from their lower ends to their upper ends, means forming a plurality of ball receiving compartments at the lower ends of said return surfaces, means forming ball deflecting bumpers on said return surfaces between said compartments and the upper ends of said return surfaces for causing balls rolling down said return surfaces to be randomly deflected, said side portions of said putting surface communicating with said return surfaces so that golf balls may roll from said side portions onto said return surfaces, said putting surface having a ball receiving opening therein at an elevated portion thereof, an additional compartment adjacent said first mentioned compartments, and conduit means for returning a ball entering said opening to said additional compartment.

2. A golf game device as defined in claim 1 further characterized by including a surface beyond said putting surface and at the rear end of said frame, said last mentioned surface having a ball receiving opening therein, and means forming passageways leading from said last mentioned ball receiving opening to the upper ends of said return surfaces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,634 11/1921 Fegteborg 273-124 1,540,343 6/1925 Kohler 273124 2,243,720 5/1941 Preece 273 X 3,351,345 11/1967 Robinette 273-179 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. GEORGE J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 273179, 180, 183, 124, 125, 87 

